BRAZIL: At least six schoolchildren and two staff members were killed in a shooting at a school in Sao Paulo state in Brazil yesterday.

Teen gunmen were suspected of the attack at the Professor Raul Brasil state school in Suzano.

Sao Paulo state governor Joao Doria said the victims had been “cruelly murdered.”

ALGERIA:  Protests continued in Algeria yesterday despite President Abdelaziz Bouteflika backing down over plans to stand for a fifth term.

He scrapped elections planned for next month as the country was gripped by a five-day general strike.

“We will march more determined than ever to end this system, to end this mafia. We want a republican and democratic state. No to manipulation, let’s be vigilant. The battle is not won,” protesters said, demanding Mr Bouteflika’s immediate resignation.

SAUDI ARABIA: Ten women’s rights activists went on trial yesterday including Loujain al-Hathloul, who played a leading role in the campaign for the right to drive.

They appeared at a Riyadh court where they faced charges under the country’s cyber crimes law.

Four of the women claimed to have been sexually assaulted and tortured by electric shocks and beatings while in jail.

The Gulf Centre for Human Rights warned that the women might not get a fair trial and said it was “deeply concerned” about their wellbeing.